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Fighting disease

A man has his eyes checked for signs of trachoma.
News / Fighting disease /

World’s largest trachoma surveys reach 50th country

Sierra Leone has become the 50th country to be surveyed for trachoma as part of the initiative, with one person being examined for trachoma every 26 seconds since the surveys began in 2012.

July 2021
School children in a queue have their information taken by a man
News / Fighting disease /

UK government cuts funding for neglected tropical diseases

The £4 billion cut includes ending funding for the FCDO's flagship neglected tropical disease programmes, including the Sightsavers-led Ascend West and Central Africa programme.

June 2021
The view from the deck of a boat, with a sunset and land in the distance.
Stories / Fighting disease /

“Trachoma: go! We don’t want you!”

A video diary recorded by Sightsavers programme officer Iliezer Gomes Bidjonque gives a unique look at how we're tackling trachoma on the remote Bijagos Islands in Guinea-Bissau.

two surgeons work on a patient.
News / Fighting disease /

Thousands of people in Africa get sight-saving surgery

In three years, Sightsavers’ Accelerate programme has supported governments in 12 countries to provide eye surgery to 37,000 people.

June 2021
Stories / Fighting disease /

“Taking photos helps people to understand our problems”

People in Nigeria with diseases affecting the skin have shared their photos as part of a research project into how these conditions can be better managed.

The Countess of Wessex on a video call with key representatives involved in the elimination of trachoma in The Gambia. All participants are clapping their hands in celebration.
News / Fighting disease /

Countess of Wessex hails trachoma elimination in The Gambia

In a video call, the Countess congratulated key representatives who helped The Gambia to reach this milestone.

April 2021
A large group of women dance and clap while celebrating the elimination of trachoma in The Gambia.
Blogs / Fighting disease /

Trachoma elimination in The Gambia: sustaining the success story

Sightsavers directors Balla Musa and Phil Downs reflect on what this achievement means for The Gambia, and how other countries can learn from the experience.

Sightsavers, April 2021
A large group of women dance and clap while celebrating the elimination of trachoma in The Gambia.
News / Fighting disease /

Trachoma is eliminated in The Gambia

The Gambia has become the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate the potentially blinding disease, as confirmed by the World Health Organization.

April 2021
A poster displayed on a wall featuring the text Avoid crowded-up places to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers’ neglected tropical disease work wins media awards

Sightsavers received the Mass Media Award and the Photo Award from the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD).

April 2021
A young woman, wearing a mask, sits on a rug in front of her house by her walking stick
Stories / Fighting disease /

“I’m calling all women to work together and help people”

Meet Aishatu Ahmed, who wants to encourage women to join the fight against trachoma in Nigeria.

A man pours clean water for a woman to wash her hands.
Blogs / Fighting disease /

Our NTD experience will be invaluable for COVID vaccine rollout

Distributing neglected tropical disease (NTD) preventative treatments in Africa can teach us a lot about rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine.

Simon Bush, February 2021
African Renaissance Monument is lit up in honour of World NTD Day.
News / Fighting disease /

World NTD Day 2021: highlights from around the world

On 30 January 2021, Sightsavers joined global celebrations to mark the fight against neglected tropical diseases.

February 2021
Two villagers in Niger walk among dusty coloured huts.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers welcomes WHO road map to tackle neglected tropical diseases

The road map lays out the World Health Organization's strategic and programmatic response to NTDs in the next decade.

January 2021
A man stands for a portrait while wearing a mask.
News / Fighting disease /

Fight against NTDs continues despite pandemic

More than 35 million treatments were given out in 2020 as part of global efforts to tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

January 2021
A woman shows two men how correctly cover their mouths when the cough.
Stories / Fighting disease /

Communities in Nigeria drive the fight against COVID-19

The most effective way to tackle health issues is to put affected communities in the driving seat – COVID-19 is no different.

Students practice using measuring sticks to calculate drug dosages in Masindi, Uganda.
Fighting disease / Reports /

NTD activities in Africa in the COVID-19 era: the need for a ‘hybrid’ approach in COVID-endemic times

With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of abating, resuming neglected tropical disease activities, particularly mass drug administration, is vital in achieving WHO Roadmap targets.

A large group of people stand with their awards for tackling river blindness in Nigeria.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers wins award for its work to eliminate river blindness in Nigeria

The Nigerian ministry of health presented the award for Sightsavers' work to treat the disease in Kaduna State.

December 2019
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers rated a top charity by GiveWell for the fourth time

The charity evaluator praised Sightsavers’ deworming work in Africa for its cost-effectiveness and transparency.

November 2019
Caroline Harper, CEO of Sightsavers, holding a dose pole.
News / Fighting disease /

Dr Caroline Harper wins the first Hemingway Award

Sightsavers’ CEO was recognised for her work to help eliminate trachoma by transforming the way funding is secured.

November 2019
Samson Lokele poses next to his image in the Science Museum exhibition.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers’ pioneering work is showcased in new Science Museum exhibition

Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries is the world’s largest medical gallery and will be on display for at least 30 years.

November 2019
A male Tropical Data trainer shows female trainee how to identify what trachoma follicles would look like by using small, circular, red stickers with five white dots on their thumbs.
News / Fighting disease /

Huge increase in Tropical Data surveys means more people are checked for trachoma

More than 700 surveys to track levels of blinding trachoma have been completed globally in the past year as part of the Tropical Data initiative.

October 2019
Samson Lokele talks to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.
News / Fighting disease /

The Queen hosts reception celebrating progress to eliminate trachoma

Staff gathered at Buckingham Palace in the UK to recognise the achievements of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust’s Trachoma Initiative.

October 2019
Four Sightsavers staff members smile at the camera.
News / Fighting disease /

Groundbreaking disease prevention programme is presented to MPs

The parliamentary event showcased the UK government’s new flagship NTD programme, Ascend, which aims to protect 200 million people from neglected tropical diseases.

October 2019
A still from Sightsavers' film with ITN, showing presenter Natasha Kaplinsky alongside the Sightsavers logo.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers’ work to fight disease features in new video

The video, introduced by newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, includes a segment on Sightsavers' work to tackle schistosomiasis in Guinea-Bissau.

September 2019
Muhammed, who has lymphatic filariasis, with health worker Suraji in Nigeria.
News / Fighting disease /

New health programme will protect 200 million people from disease

The Ascend programme, which Sightsavers is leading, aims to tackle six of the world’s worst diseases in 25 countries.

September 2019
Two trucks drive through a dusty landscape in Benin, with parched shrubs on either side of the road.
News / Fighting disease /

BBC Africa films first trachoma operations in Benin

A team from ‘La Vie’, BBC Africa’s French-language health programme, followed the story of two women from Benin as they had surgery for blinding trachoma.

September 2019
A woman with LF cleans her affected limb.
Blogs / Fighting disease /

Catching the mosquitoes that spread lymphatic filariasis

Sightsavers’ research, which involves testing mosquitoes for signs of the disease, can help us to ensure treatment is directed where it’s needed most.

Dr Rogers Nditanchou, September 2019
Boulders in a river beneath a canopy of trees.
News / Fighting disease /

Nigerian hotspot declared free from river blindness

The disease has been banished from key areas of Nigeria where it was once endemic, bringing it one step closer to being eliminated.

August 2019
Caroline Harper speaks at the TED summit in July 2019.
News / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers and END Fund join forces at TED summit to inspire action on NTDs

Sightsavers’ CEO Dr Caroline Harper and the END Fund’s Sam Mayer presented a session looking at how countries are making huge strides towards eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

July 2019
A group of participants from the Sudan Tropical Data training stand together for a photo.
Blogs / Fighting disease /

How health workers are gathering data to fight trachoma in conflict areas

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health in Sudan invited eye health workers from Somalia and Libya to attend a training session to teach them how to gather data as part of the Tropical Data initiative.

Cristina Jimenez, June 2019
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